Retail sales decline in February
Mar 10 2009
The UK's retail sales values saw a 'disappointing' fall in February, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
Sales dropped by 1.8 per cent on a like-for-like basis compared to the same month last year, according to Retail Sales Monitor figures from the BRC and advisory firm KPMG.
Non-food sales dropped below the levels seen last year, with the growth in food sales also slowing.
It comes in contrast to January's figures, which saw a 6.5 per cent rise in like-for-like sales compared to 2008.
Stephen Robertson, director general of the BRC, describes the data as 'disappointing', saying January's figures were driven by discounting.
'The short burst of spending unleashed by January clearances has largely vanished, replaced by sales as weak as most of last year,' he adds.
Robertson states that the snow in early February also hindered the sector, with women's and men's clothing being particularly impacted by the weather.
The BRC adds while the industry is not looking for handouts, the government is introducing 'costly new handicaps' such as business rate increases and a supermarket ombudsman.
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